MacArthur drops 'noise surcharge'

The town of Islip, N.Y., said it will not enforce an ordinance adopted in September that would have imposed a “noise surcharge” of $50,000 per flight on all aircraft operations at Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) between 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. The reversal came only after the FAA threatened to start proceedings to terminate ISP’s eligibility for AIP funds and authority to collect passenger facility charges, as the airport was apparently in violation of Part 161 rules. However, under an existing ordinance, operations at ISP between 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. are still restricted to aircraft with noise levels of 72 dBA or less on takeoff or 85 dBA or less on landing.